Mt Roskill South Development
Spring 2018
Progress Update
Call in for a bargain and a chat
Dianne Ferguson (left) is the part-time Manager at the Op Shop. Diane Wichman (right) has volunteered at the Op Shop since it opened in 1999
New 2 U Op Shop is the Mount Roskill Baptist Church op shop on Richardson Road. The shop stocks an eclectic mix of good quality, secondhand goods: anything from clothing, shoes and jewellery through to books and homeware. The team at HLC caught up with Dianne Ferguson, the part-time Manager at the Op Shop, and Diane Wichman, who has volunteered at the Op Shop since it opened in 1999. Both Diane and Dianne say that it’s great to see the Mt Roskill South Development team taking local feedback into consideration and making an effort to keep Mt Roskill South residents informed. “There are monthly BBQs, coffee chats, public meetings and lots of signage. It’s great to see that the community is being informed. It’s not a case of simply slapping some houses here and there. That’s something we really appreciate.” The New 2 U Op Shop isn’t just a place to fetch a bargain. It’s also a place where members of the community can find a shoulder to lean on and a listening ear. “Many of our customers are talking about the development,” says Dianne. “People come to us because we’ve built up twenty years worth of trust in this community. This is a safe space.” Dianne says that the Op Shop gets all of its information about the development directly from
For state housing related enquiries: Phone Housing New Zealand Tenancy Services on 0800 801 601
HLC which they can confidently pass on to their customers. “We’d like Housing New Zealand tenants who are new to the area to know that this is a space for them too. We are here, even if just for a chat.” Diane says that her reason for being in the shop is her love for the Mt Roskill South community. “People have access to quality goods at affordable prices. It makes a difference to their day-to-day lives. But we couldn’t do it without the generous donations from the community. It takes a community to help a community.”
Stop by for a BBQ and meet the team The team at HLC and JFC (HLC’s civil contractors for Stage 1 of the development) are in the neighbourhood a lot these days. So we thought it was about time we organised a get together so that you can meet the team and find out more about the development. We are holding a free BBQ every second Wednesday of the month until the end of the year. When: Where: Time:
Wednesday 14 November Wednesday 12 December Burnett Avenue, Mt Roskill 5.30pm – 7.00pm
So save the date, meet the team, and enjoy a sausage or two on us! Halal and vegetarian options available. We’ll see you there.
Surplus profits and unsold goods find their way back to the community too. Scrap metal is taken to the scrap metal yard for a small amount of money that is donated to charity. Books are donated to the Lion’s Book Fair in New Lynn. Golf balls find a new home at the local school golf club. There’s even a prayer box initiative for customers who want to submit an anonymous prayer. The Op Shop was established in 1999. Come January next year, the Op Shop will be 20 years old. When asked if there’ll be a celebration, Dianne says, “I guess so, yes. I have put it out to our volunteers for any ideas.” New 2 U Op Shop 489 Richardson Road, Mt Roskill Monday – Friday 9am - 1pm Saturday 9:30am - 1:30pm (closed on long weekends)
For project management related enquiries: Email us at info@mtroskillsouthdevelopment.co.nz Phone us at 09 261 5054
Local children having a turn on the digger at the first HLC BBQ earlier this month.
Website: www.mtroskilldevelopment.co.nz
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